At Home in the World

The Coolest Ice Hotels in the World

Come winter, travelers around the world tend to seek warmth and welcome both inside and out—hello, firewood concierges and secret Caribbean islands. But instead of escaping winter, a recent subset of hotels has decided instead to embrace it: Welcome to ice hotels, structures that are rebuilt (and redesigned) each winter in some of the coldest climes on earth. Incorporating millions of pounds of snow, ice blocks, and intricate designs, these hotels will help you celebrate cool, all while staying warm. This article was originally published in December 2014 and has been updated.

The Coolest Ice Hotels in the World

Come winter, travelers around the world tend to seek warmth and welcome both inside and out—hello, firewood concierges and secret Caribbean islands. But instead of escaping winter, a recent subset of hotels has decided instead to embrace it: Welcome to ice hotels, structures that are rebuilt (and redesigned) each winter in some of the coldest climes on earth. Incorporating millions of pounds of snow, ice blocks, and intricate designs, these hotels will help you celebrate cool, all while staying warm. This article was originally published in December 2014 and has been updated.

Hotel de Glace

Quebec City, Canada

The cold will be a quickly forgotten concern at Hotel de Glace, Quebec’s ice hotel. While temperatures in the 44 rooms or suites linger at around 25 degrees Fahrenheit, the bed frames (also made of ice) come with blankets and arctic sleeping bags. Higher-end suites have in-room fireplaces for the cold-weather weary.

SnowCastle of Kemi

Kemi, Finland

Who said snow forts were just for kids? Since 1996, the SnowCastle in Kemi, Finland has offered guests a unique seasonal experience in the world’s largest snow fort. Snow sculptures and light effects create an enchanting ambiance throughout the hotel, which also includes a restaurant and chapel.

Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel

Alta, Norway

Outside Alta, Norway, near the banks of a river, sits the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel. After spending the night on a reindeer hide in one of the hotel’s snow rooms, head over to the sauna to warm up. If you time your trip right, you can also get a glimpse of the Northern Lights or even get hitched in the ice chapel.

SnowHotel

Kirkenes, Norway

Open since 2006, SnowHotel is located in northern Norway, not far from the Russian border. The hotel, bar, and chapel are rebuilt every winter with the help of ice sculptors from the famous ice festival in Harbin, China. Squeamish about the cold or not sure you can commit to a full night? Lucky for you, there are day tour options available.

Hotel of Ice

Balea Lake, Romania

Perched in the Carpathian Mountains and accessible only via cable car, the Hotel of Ice rebuilds its rooms each year, inspired by a different theme. If sleeping in a room constructed completely from ice isn’t an authentic enough winter experience, the hotel also has three igloos. Added bonus? If you want to bring the family, there's a reduced rate for kids ages 6-12, and kids under 6 stay for free.

Icehotel

Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

For a hotel made of snow and ice, this is about as luxurious as it gets. The deluxe suite at Icehotel comes with a private sauna, and each of the "art suites" has been designed by artists from around the world. Other rooms feature a colorful Aurora Borealis light show projected on the ceiling above your bed. If your Scandinavian holiday isn't happening until summer, Icehotel also has a "wilderness camp" where you can stay in wooden cabins, go fishing, and otherwise commune with nature.

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

Saariselka, Finland

Sure, the glass-roofed igloos at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort are downright awesome, but the resort’s authentic igloos are the real deal. Kakslauttanen has a wide range of rooms, including suites, "gold digger cabins" with built-in saunas and a sled out front, and one styled to look like a guest room in Santa's house. On-site activities include everything from the warm (souvenir shopping, visiting a car mini-museum) to the really, really cold—yep, ice swimming.

Snow Village

Kittila, Finland

The Snow Village is appropriately located more than 120 miles north of the Arctic Circle in the Finnish Lapland, and more than 33 million pounds of snow are used to make Snow Village every winter. The hotel includes more than 30 rooms, a chapel, two restaurants (only one is made of ice), and a bar where you’ll never need to worry about your drink getting warm.